High voltage switch



Sept. 26, 1944. J. B. sHAw HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH Filed April 26, 1943INVENTOR. Mawr; y

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Patented Sept. 26, 1944 HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH John B. Shaw, San Francisco,Calif., assigner to' Pacific Electric Manufacturing Corporation, SanFrancisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 26,1943, Serial No. 484,509

Glaims. (Cl. 2410-48) My present invention relates to disconnectingswitches, and particularly to disconnecting switches of the type havinga flattened or beavertail end that is adapted to be turned about thelongitudinal axis of the switch blade and bring oppositely disposedcontact surfaces at the end thereof into high pressure contact makingengagement with the opposed faces of a cooperating stationary contact.

An object of the invention is to provide an olperating mechanism for adisconnecting switch of the above type in which the circuit opening andclosing movements of the switch blade and the contact pressureestablishing rotary movements thereof are produced in a novel, efficientand practical manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism fora pivotally mounted disconnecting switch blade of the type that isrotatable into and out lof contact making engagement with a stationarycontact when the switch blade is in its closed circuit position, inwhich substantially all of the rotary movement of the switch bladeoccurs prior to any pivotal circuit opening movement thereof orsubsequent to any pivotal circuit closing movement thereof with respect`to its cooperating stationary contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in adisconnecting switch of the character described having a pivotallymounted blade that moves into cooperating relation to a stationarycontact with a swinging and rotating movement, in which the bladeoperating forces are transmitted from a rotatable insulator stand to thepivotally mounted switch blade through an operating mechanism that willlimit the rotating movements of the switch blade to a pointsubstantially at the beginning and at the end of its pivotal circuitopening and circuit closing movements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanismfor a disconnecting switch of the character described in which there isprovided a blade rotation imparting connection that will produce agreater blade rotation at the proper time than is possible with thecorresponding operating devices olf the prior art.

In the art to which my present invention relates there are a number oftypes of operating mechanisms for disconnecting switches of thecharacter contemplated. In each of these types, in addition to swingingthe switch blade between its open and closed circuit positions, theoperating mechanism also imparts rotation to the blade for the purposeof bringing contact engaging surfaces at the end thereof into highpressure engagement with a stationary contact of proper design. In theprior art arrangeless there is provided considerable play or loosenessin the operating mechanisms, the switch blade must necessarily start itsswinging movement at the same time that its rotary movement ininitiated. Therefore, special p-recautions are taken by providingsuitable stops which operate to hold the switch blade against anyswinging movement as its operating mechanism operates to impart thedesired rotary movement to the switch blade as it is moved out of andinto cooperating relation with the stationary contact.

To overcome the above disadvantages, I have provided an operatingmechanism in which the blade swinging and rotating forces aretransmitted from a rotatable insulator column through a link-likeoperating connection that will impart a maximum of swinging movement tothe switch blade and, at the same time, limit the rotative high pressurecontact making movement of the blade to a period in its operation whenthe switch blade is in its closed circuit position adjacent thestationary contactl with which it cooperates.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be in part evident tothose skilled in the art and in part pointed out hereinafter in thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitationpreferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a disconnecting switch, constructedin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, in itscircuit closed position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the disconnecting switch shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the position of the operatingmechanism when ythe switch blade is in its full open circuit position, o

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view showing the position of the blade,with respect to its cooperating stationary contact, when the switchblade is in its closed circuit position, and

Figure 5 shows the position of the switch blade immediately prior to aninitial circuit opening operation thereof, or just prior to a nalcircuit closing operation thereof.

As will be seen from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, theswitch blade and operating mechanismcontemplated' by my invention ismounted in the conventional manner upon three insulator columns Ill, andI2 that are held in properly spaced relation upon a suitable support I3.The support I3, as here shown, may be the cross arm of a power linesupporting pole ortower, or it may be in the form of a bracket upon aroof or wall of a building. It will also be understood that thesupporting frame I3 may be disposed in a horizontal or a verticalposition, depending upon its location. The insulator column ||i servesas a support for a stationary contact clip I4 with which there isassociated a terminal I5 to which a conductor of the power line isconnected, and the insulator column carries a pivotally mounted supportI6 upon which a tubular switch blade I1 is mounted. In this instancethe. switch blade |1 is adapted to rotate about an axially extendingshaft or bearing |8 that is carried by the pivotally mounted support I6.At its outer end the switch blade |1 is flattened to provide a so-calledbeaver-tail end I9 which has laterally disposed contact'lsurfaces at itsedges that are adapted to be turned into high pressure lcontactengagement with the opposed contact surfaces of the stationary contactclip Il. Secured upon and extending radially from the switch blade I1there is an arm or clevis-like extension 2|) by means of which theswitch blade I1 may be rotated, as will hereinafter appear.

The insulator columns I8 and are fixed upon the supporting frame I3, andthe insulator column |2 is journaled at its lower end within a bearing2| so that it may be turned to operate the switch blade I1. At its upperend the insulator column I2 is journaled in the outer end of a strut 22which carries a projecting terminal lug 23 to which the other conductorof the power line is connected. This strut 22.extends between the topsof the insulator columns and I2 and serves to space these insulatorcolumns in proper relation to each other. Adjacent the pivotal supportI6 the strut 22 carries a exible current conductor 24 which connectswith the switch blade I1 and provides a current conducting path aroundthe bearing surfaces upon which the switch blade |1 and the pivotalsupport I8 are mounted. In order to impart an operating movement to theinsulator column I2, this latter :insulator column carries a lever arm25 that may be connected to a suitable operating mechanism and/or to anadjacent similar switch in the well known manner. Fixed upon the upperend of the insulator column I2 there is a substantially radiallyextending crank arm 26 that has a projecting spindle 21, and rotatablymounted upon the spindle 21 there is a swivel 28 which has twooppositely extending trunnions 29 to which the ends of a bifurcated link30 are connected. At its other end the bifurcated link 30 is connectedto the clevis-like extension 20 carried by the switch blade I1 by meansof a universal joint connection 3|. This universal joint connection 3|is here shown as adjustably connected to the bifurcated link 30.However, it will be understood that once this connection has beenproperly made, no further adjustment will be required. At this point itshould be stated that while I have illustrated and described theoperating link 30 as of bifurcated construction and as connected to thecrank arm 26 by the swivel 28 having trunnions 29, it will be understoodthat the link 30 may take other forms. For example, it is contemplatedthat instead of the trunnions 29, the swivel 28 may be providedwithoutwardly extending spaced ears between which this end of the operatinglink 30 may be connected in such a manner as to operate in accordancewith the-present invention.

With the switch constructed as above described, it will be understoodthat when the crank arm 26 is in its dead center position with respectto the axis of the switch blade |1, the trunnions 28 carried by theswivel 28 will extend in a horizontal direction with the clevis 28 uponthe switch blade extending substantially vertical. When the parts are inthis position, the bifurcated link l 30 will have no tendency to turnthe swivel 28 y about its spindle 21 and, therefore, since the swivel 28cannot turn in this position of operation to permit a hinging betweenthe bifurcated link 30 and the crank arm 28,-the bifurcated link 30 willform a substantially coextensive and rigidvextension of the crank arm 28and thus exert a substantially transversely applied force upon theclevis 28 that will cause the switch blade I1 to turn through a limitedangle about its supporting shaft or bearing I8 which is carried by thepivotally mounted support I8. When the operating mechanism is in theposition shown in Figure 1, the beaver-tail end I9 of the switch bladeI1 will be in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in'Figure 4of the drawing, and as the above described force is transversely appliedto the clevis 20. the beaver-tail end I8 of the switch blade I1 willassume a position substantially corresponding to that illustrated inFigure 5 of the drawing. Then, as the crank arm 28 continues to movearound in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3 ofthe drawing, the swivel 28`wil1 turn about its spindle 21 and cause thebifurcated link 30 to exert a pulling force upon the clevis 28 whichwill cause the switch blade |1 to swing 40 outwardly with its pivotalsupport I8 and into an open circuit position with respect to thestationary contact clip I4. During this switch opening operation, itwill be understood that as the switch blade I1 swings into its opencircuit position, the clevis 28 and the switch blade I1 will move aroundthe axis of the extending shaft or bearing- I8 and thus permit thenecessary rotation of the swivel 28 upon its spindle 21, as shown inFigure 3 of the drawing.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose theinvention so that the same can be readily understood, described andillustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have itunderstood that thisV invention is not necessarily limited to thespeciilc means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that willsuggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed thatthis invention is new and it is desired to claim it so that all suchchanges as come within the scope of the appended claims are to beconsidered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: 1. In a disconnecting switch of the type having arotatable blade, the combination of a. stationary contact, a switchblade having laterally disposed contact surfaces at its end adapted tocooperate with said stationary contact, a pivotally mounted support forsaid switch blade adapted to permit a swinging movement of the switchblade into and out of cooperating relation with said stationary contact,a blade supporting shaft extending outwardly from said pivotally mountedsupport, an operating crank arm spaced from said Pivotal support andsupported to operate about a vertical axis, a spindle carried by andextending ,outwardly at the end of said crank arm, a swivel membermounted to turn about said spindle and having oppositely extendingtrunnions, a bifurcated link having its bifurcations journaled upon theoppositely extending trunnions of said swivel member, an outwardlyextending clevis-like extension carried by said switch blade, and auniversal connection between said clevis-like extension and theextending end of said bifurcated link, whereby said switch blade will beturned about its supporting shaft when said bifurcated link and saidoperating crank arm are in coextending relation with respect to eachother and will subsequently swing vertically with said pivotally mountedsupport when said link and said operating crank arm move into angularrelation with respect to each other.

2. In a disconnecting switch of the type having a rotatable blade, thecombination of a stationary contact, a switch blade adapted to cooperatewith said stationary contact, a pivotally mounted support upon'whichsaid switch blade is rotatably mcunted adapted to also permit a swingingmovement of said switch blade into and out of engagement with saidstationary contact, a crank arm positioned rearwardly of said pivotallymounted support and operating about a vertical axis, a swivel-likemember carried by the outer end of said crank arm and rotatably mountedto turn about an axis substantially radial to the vertical axis aboutwhich said crank arm operates, said swivel-like member having oppositelyextending trunnion forming projections, a bifurcated link having itsbifurcations journaled upon the truntrunnions carried by said swivel,whereby said bifurcated link will form a substantially rigid extensionof said crank arm and turn the switch nion forming projections of saidswivel-like member, whereby said bifurcated link and said operatingcrank arm will act as a rigid lever throughout one range of movement ofsaid crank arm and hinge with respect to each other in another range ofmovement of the crank arm, an outwardly and upwardly extending cleviscarried by said switch blade, and a universal connection between saidclevis and the extending end of said bifurcated link, whereby saidswitch blade will be rotated axially upon its pivotally mounted supportwhen said bifurcated link and said operating arm operate in said firstrange of movement of the crank arm and be subsequently swung with itspivotally mounted support out of cooperating relation with saidstationary contact when said bifurcated link and said operating crankarm operate in said second range of movement of the crank arm.

3. A disconnecting switch operating mechanism, comprising in combinationa pivotally mounted support, a switch blade carried by said pivotallymounted support and adapted to turn about its longitudinal axis, astationary contact, a rotatable operating shaft positioned in spacedrelation with said pivotally mounted switch blade support, an extendingcrank arm at the end of said operating shaft adapted to move through anarc in a plane at right angles to the plane of the swinging movement ofsaid switch blade, a swivel at the outer end of said crank arm havingoppositely extending trunnions, an arm attached to and extendingradially from the longitudinal axis of said switch blade, and abifurcated link hingedly connected at itsextending end to the arm uponsaid switch blade and having its bifurcated end journaled upon theopposltely extending blade about its longitudinal axis as the crank armmoves through and adjacent its dead center relation with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said switch blade and subsequently hinge withrespect to said crank arm about said trunnions as the crank arm movesthrough the remainder of its arc of movement to thereby effect aswinging movement of the switch blade between its closed and opencircuit positions.

4. A disconnecting switch operating mechan'sm, comprising in combinationa pivotally mounted support, a, switch blade carried by said support andadapted to be turned about its longitudinal axis and swing in a verticalplane, a rotatable operating shaft positioned in spaced relation to thepivotal axis of said pivotally mounted support, a crank arm at the endof said shaft adapted to move through an arc in a plane at right anglesto the plane of the swinging movement ci said switch blade, a swivel atthe outer end of said crank arm having transversely extending trunnions,an arm attached to and extending upwardly from said switch blade, and abifurcated link connected at one end through a universal connection tothe arm upon said switch blade and having vits bifurcated end journaledupon the transversely extending trunnions carried by said swivel,whereby said bifurcated link will form a substantially rigid extensionofsaid crank arm and turn the switch blade about its longitudinal axis asthe crank arm moves through and adjacent its dead center position withrespect to said pivotally mounted support and subsequently hinge withrespect to said crank arm at said trunnions to thereby effect a swingingmovement of the switch blade between its closed and open circuitpositions as said crank arm moves through the remainder of its arc ofmovement.'

5. A disconnecting switch operating mechanisln, comprising incombination a pivotally mounted switch blade support, a switch bladecarried by said support, adapted to be turned about itslongitudinal axisand swing in a vertical plane Yilto and out Vof cooperating relationwith a stationary contact, a rotatable operating shaft positioned inspaced relation to the pivotal axis of said pivotally mounted switchblade support, a crank arm carried by said operating shaft adapted tomove through an arc in a plane at right angles to the plane of theswinging movement of said switch blade, a swivel at the outer end ofsaid crank arm, a clevis-like member extending radially from said switchblade, and a link connected at its extending end through a universalconnection to the clevis-like member upon said switch blade and havingits other end journaled upon said swivel in a manner to form asubstantially rigid extension of said crank arm which will turn theswitch blade about its longitudinalaxis as the crank arm moves throughand adjacent its dead center position with respect to said pivotallymounted switch blade support and subsequently hinge with respect to saidcrank arm to thereby effect a swinging of the switch blade between itsclosed and open circuit positions as said crank arm moves through theremainder of its arc of movement.

JOHN B. SHAW.

